CARES funds to cover the cost of senior meals

Hancock County Senior Services would like to offer some good news we have received . Commissioner Victoria Edge, Department of Aging & Independent Living/DAIL, announced on Wednesday that DAIL has been given permission to access the state CARES funds to cover the cost of senior meals. We do not know how much it will be, how long it will last, etc. but we are very excited that they are going to come through with the money to ensure  we can continue to feed the older adults of our community.
There are so many things that we have missed out on over the last several months…our annual health fair, our May visits to the other Senior Centers in the GRADD area, day trips, educational events, new exercise programs and just the fun of getting out and socializing with one another. Hancock County Senior Services is trying to come up with creative ideas to continue providing other services (Recreation, transportation, health promotion, education, etc) to those we are serving.  We have been playing BINGO with all or our current meal participants. Everyone received a disposable BINGO card and every day there are 5 numbers taped to their meal  lids for them to check their cards with. Everyone seems to be enjoying it so far.  We are currently trying to work with other agencies to get some educational and health related information out to our participants.
As of now, no definite plans have been made to re-open the senior centers. Regulations and procedures and how to implement them have been discussed. But considering that our main purpose is to encourage socialization among the most vulnerable age group of this virus, we fell that opening to soon would be too risky. So for now we will continue to provide meals and what services we can in a limited capacity.
If anyone knows of an older adult in our community in need of services please contact Hancock County Senior Services @ 270-927-8313.